Marlow for chairperson — and for change — at C.B. 3

The Villager doesn’t usually endorse in elections for community board chairperson. Each board’s officers aren’t elected by popular vote throughout their district — but by the 50 volunteer members that serve on the board.

However, in the case of Community Board 3, which covers the East Village and Lower East Side, we feel compelled to weigh in.

Indications are this will be a very close race. And there is a real difference between the two candidates. There is a lot at stake, namely, the future direction of the board and, thus, of the neighborhood.

Gigi Li, 32, who has served two one-year terms as chairperson, is running for re-election to a third term. Opposing her is Chad Marlow, 42, who has been on the board two years.

Almost all Manhattan community boards have term limits for chairpersons — ranging from two to four years. C.B. 3, though, is not one of them.

It’s been at least five years since this community board has seen a contested chairperson election. Yet, C.B. 3 has been roiled by problems for some while now, stretching back at least a year. Some, however, would say the board’s problems extend back even farther and are more deeply rooted.

The main flashpoint has been liquor-license applications. Things started to go off the rails when David McWater, a former C.B. 3 chairperson — and a bar owner — was videoed confronting a much smaller female activist last September in a heated exchange over a liquor-license vote.

Ten days later, as The Villager first reported, McWater decided to resign from C.B. 3. The Villager also reported then that McWater apparently was not living in New York City, but in New Jersey, making him ineligible to serve on the community board. Obviously, others at C.B. 3 had long known about this situation, but said nothing.

Very soon thereafter, LES Dwellers, the new community activist group that has been fighting the hardest — and most effectively — against bar oversaturation, specifically in the Lower East Side’s “Hell Square,” was “suspended” by Li — yet without the full board ever having taken a vote on the matter.

For three months, Dwellers members were not allowed to identify themselves as such when speaking at board meetings, and the Dwellers were removed from the board’s “referral list” of community groups given to liquor license applicants.

This highly undemocratic act was promptly and rightly rebuked by then-Borough President Scott Stringer — who appoints all community board members — in a letter to Li and C.B. 3 District Manager Susan Stetzer. Saying the suspension raised serious questions about “fairness” and “transparency,” Stringer asked Li to reconsider her action.

However, Li snubbed Stringer’s request, and the LES Dwellers’ suspension was not lifted.

Then, in January, there was an embarrassing procedural snafu on whether a vote should have been held on a street co-naming application for “Beastie Boys Square” at Rivington and Ludlow Sts.

More recently, Li has been accused of not promoting black and Latino board members to chairperson positions on board committees. Borough President Gale Brewer’s Office is investigating these charges, which were raised by C.B. 3 member Ayo Harrington.

In short, C.B. 3 is clearly in disarray, and there is a growing sense of disconnect with the community that it is supposed to serve.

There is a strong sentiment for change, both within the community and on C.B. 3. On the board, there is also a growing sense of rebellion.

In an interview with The Villager, Marlow, who previously served on the West Village’s Community Board 2 for three years, stressed that, if elected, job No. 1 for him would be better board management. When he was around 30, Marlow was president of the Village Independent Democrats for two years, so he knows how to run meetings — and with very opinionated members! Veterans of the famously progressively club say he did a good job, is extremely ethical, and that his heart is in the right place on social issues.

In short, Marlow told us, he would focus on running meetings more efficiently. He said, for example — giving one idea — he would buy cordless microphones so that members of both the public and the board could be better heard when speaking.

He said he would shift the board’s M.O. from “top-down” to “bottom-up,” and so would make it a priority to listen to other board members in terms of what areas they want to focus on. As for his own main concerns, they include transportation and safety issues; children’s issues; affordability and retail diversity; the increase in violent crime; and the need for “balance,” as in, the problem of the East Village and Lower East Side being a bar “party land.”

Though Marlow told us board management would be his top priority, we’re impressed by his record of accomplishment, and we feel, were he elected, he simply would — get things done, and that he would get the right things, positive things done. In short, he is more activist and energetic than Li, and that’s what we need.

It was Marlow who successfully spearheaded the effort for an Alphabet City / Tompkins Square Park “Slow Zone.” Featuring car-calming street speed bumps and signs with reduced speed limits, the Slow Zone is reportedly now set to be implemented in August.

As a Tompkins Square Playground parent with two young children, Marlow also waged an effective campaign to get the city to crack down on the park’s serious rat problem — a.k.a. “Ratpalooza” — several summers ago. It worked. The rodents’ numbers were reduced (and we all learned that rats hate mint-flavored garbage bags).

Also, last year, Marlow initiated a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $18,000 for the family of East Village florist Akkas Ali, 63, who was critically injured by a speeding, intoxicated driver and later died of his injuries. Marlow felt a connection since his own father was left brain-injured by a drunk driver and never fully recovered.

Marlow told us that he would also, if elected, make sure that committee assignments are more balanced across the board. Right now, some members serve on up to five committees, while others are only on one. Obviously, the current setup concentrates power among a smaller circle of board members, while disempowering other members.

Over all, Marlow would open up the board and make it more inclusive.

He said he would be happy to work with District Manager Stetzer, saying that, “When she’s at her best, she’s great.”

At the same time, if elected, Marlow would be more hands-on with the board’s staff. He would make sure that people are doing their jobs — but not overstepping their boundaries.

While Stetzer is a very hard worker, a strong chairperson, as Marlow would be, would complement her, and together they would make a good team. In the end, though, district managers are paid employees — they are not appointed board members. There is a difference. It is the chairperson who runs the board — or, at least, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

However, speaking about the current situation at C.B. 3, Marlow said, “I think it’s sometimes unclear who is chairing our board.”

Also, it’s important to have a chairperson who can represent the board in speaking to the press and getting the board’s message out. Too often C.B. 3 — in dealing with both the public and the press — displays a bunker mentality. A freer flow of information and dialogue is needed.

That said, we were disappointed that Li did not accept — or, much less, even respond to — The Villager’s offer to come in for an endorsement interview, to make the case for her re-election. Again, this points to a disconnect with the community. We also offered Li — or any of her supporters on the board — the chance to write a talking point in support of her candidacy. Again, nothing.

In short, we feel that while Li is certainly a good person, the board needs change. She has already had two years as chairperson. On many other boards, she’d be term-limited, Meanwhile, C.B. 3 has fallen into a rut, and the community has lost trust that their voices are being heard. And, in the case of the LES Dwellers, their voice was actually silenced by Li for a period of time. This is not community democracy the way it’s supposed to work.

The board needs change. Marlow would bring that. And we think, if he’s elected, the board would be energized, morale would rise, and the community would soon start to be re-engaged. Above all, we think things would get done, there would be positive results. Think, “Slow Zone” — that’s a very important accomplishment for the community. We’re sure that, if elected, there would be plenty more forward-thinking ideas like that from Marlow, and that he would be open to ideas, as well, from the public and board members.

Li has had her two years. She has had her chance. Now it’s time for someone else to take the reins. And, in this case, it’s someone with fire in his belly, who cares, who is extremely intelligent, and who would do the right thing. And it’s someone who would run the board with a strong hand — not in a “power-sharing” arrangement, as currently exists. Why must the chairperson “share power” with anyone?

C.B. 3 has lost the community’s confidence. It’s simply a fact. Re-electing Li, at this point, would not heal that divide. Change is needed. Marlow represents that change. A better functioning board is the first step, and Marlow would bring that.

For the good of the community board and of the neighborhood, we sincerely hope that Board 3 elects Chad Marlow its next chairperson on Tues., June 24. The community is watching — and hoping.

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CB2 had a similar problem about ten years ago. It took a new borough president, Scott Stringer, to remedy it. Now current borough president, Gale Brewer, must follow his lead with CB3.

CB2 had been under the control of a pro-nightlife clique, which gained ascendancy and control of the board by funneling money into then borough president C. Virginia Fields' campaign treasury.

In a scandal similar to the 2013 McWater incident, another bar owner and CB2 member, Bob Rinaolo, who had great sway over the district manager and the chair, also had to resign when he ignored a letter from Fields requesting he step down as chair of the SLA committee, since his being a bar owner was a conflict of interest.

In another similarity to the current CB3 imbroglio, the CB2 district manager also thought he ran the board and was very vindictive to his “enemies”, mostly board and community members who were not part of the nightlife clique. There were several credible reports against him of bribery and other forms of corruption. (He has since died, replaced by a district manager who works for the board's benefit and not his own.)

This mess was only resolved when Stringer got elected and removed about a dozen of this clique, breaking its stranglehold. CB2 now works well, with little internecine or community conflicts.

The point: Gale Brewer, the new borough president, must follow Stringer's example and not renew any corrupt, divisive or cliquish members of CB3. Clean house.

Then a reinvigorated and balanced board can function as a CB should, and decide whether to renew the contract of the current controversial district manager, who is already well beyond the age at which most people retire.

Stringer cleaned house? What are you smoking? He appointed more cronies of his campaign and bar owners than Virginia Fields ever did. Look at Paul Seres who chairs the SLA committee at CB4. He's one of the most notorious bad nightclub owners on the LES. Tha'ts just one example. Fields was pretty bad, no question. But Stringer made community boards worse, much worse.

Your knowledge of community boards and Stringer vs. Fields is clearly deficient. In fact, you are the first person, outside of the nightlife industry, that i ever heard say that Stringer was worse than Fields. It is apparent that there is a lot of dirt about Fields that you do not know.

Additionally, you obviously didn't read my comment well enough. I was specifically referring to CB2 – no mention was made of CB4, Seres, or LES nightclubs.

Looks like Stringer cleaned CB2's house. CB4 and CB3 are up for debate.

Paul Seres should not be allowed to chair the licensing committee! This should be brought up to MBP Gale Brewer and the COIB immediately if you live in CB4. There is a precedent set in 2004 where Bob Rinaolo (bar owner) of CB2 was asked to step down from chairing the licensing committee. It was determined serving as chair was a conflict of interest.

I can tell you that everything always circles back to CB3.

Where was Paul Seres allowed to open a "restaurant / lounge" (ubiquitous on the LES for nightclub in his case a 3 floor one) and blatantly break the law?

Where is a bad operator like Paul Seres allowed to keep opening places up?

In CB3 naturally.

Why?

Because he will be the fist to tell you that he and Susan Stetzer have been friends for over 10 years. And Susan Stetzer will defend him no matter what, never reporting his businesses when he is breaking the law.

And it helps that his nightlife consulting partner Ariel Palitz sits on the SLA committee.

CB3 is a joke! This community got screwed over and over. You think things happened like this on their own? No certain people on that board allowed it to happen pushing out people or ignoring them when they spoke up.

Please CB3 members that have a conscience and a heart do the right thing!

From Our Town Downtown, "Battle of the Board" (June 19, 2014): "Li didn’t respond to repeated requests for an interview." It's not just The Villager. Li is avoiding discussing or defending her record as CB3 chair to ALL members of the press. How can she stand for re-election if she is so ashamed of her record she won't even discuss it publicly? Just shameful!

Time for change. Time for CB3 term limits.
Time for less drama about individual personalities (Li, Seras, McWaters, Fields, Setzer, Paltiz, Stringer) and who their friends are or who they are not. Our CB3 has turned into a personal soap opera, a novella, of a few people and their decades long schemes and scams in the neighborhood.
Chad Marlow's background in health, passion to lower the speed limit, concern for the effects of binge drinking on young alcohol tourists…these seem better ideals to associate with a leader. Instead our board is focused on silencing block associations, screaming at women who disagree with them, and defending themselves against allegations of racism.
For the Villager to come out in support of Char Marlow means they know things in CB3 are really, really bad. Swapping out some of the drama queens (and kings) who want everything to be about them will free the board to move forward.

thank you Villager for weighing in on this important issue! as a long time resident of the lower east side and participant in the community process, it is clear that CB3 has not been responsive to nor representative of the needs of a large majority of those whose lives it's decisions affect. it is time for a change, and chad marlow is clearly the better candidate to bring about that change. please, CB3, do the right thing for your community and vote chad marlow in!

NOBODY thinks CB3 is doing a great job. This district is a joke. Who exactly does CB3 represent? The bar's, clubs and hotels that have DESTROYED this neighborhhod. The shit that goes down in this area, in the LES especially, would be shut down in a hot minute in any other neighborhood. Susan Stetzer and Gigi Li are either completely inept, deliberately undermining the communities they they purport to represent, or simply have no idea what they're doing. Wherever it is, they BOTH need to go. Where is our representation at CB3? Where is the actual leadership? Where are our leaders that WANT community participation, that thrive on community support? Not at CB3 for sure. Thank you for your service, now step aside and let someone who cares and is capable take the reigns. Ms. Li, you should be ashamed. Ms. Stetzer that goes double for you.

It's really this simple: CB3 is broken, leadership needs to change. So so so simple. More of the same = more of the same. Sadly the only ones voting on this are the board members themselves. So again, I ask, where is our democracy and where is our representation. My money is on more of the same corruption and cronyism, but that's a bet I'd love to lose.

Your endorsement for change was greatly needed and is greatly appreciated. Residential life along Ludlow street has become a hellish nightmare for our family and most if not all of our neighbors. The leadership at CB3 has just stood by– deaf, silent and static–as the situation has only worsened over time.

Ditto – and we will be watching how current board members vote on Tuesday!
You are right to pin part of the blame on Chin & Mendez. despite being supposedly "progressive" Mendez has done very little to help her community — I'm sure her heart is in the right place but she just doesn't lead on any issues. it seems the thing that people like most about both of them is that they are female minorities. Fantastic. But when it comes down to it, if they are not effective at actually HELPING those groups, who cares? Shelly Silver also needs to get his fair share of the blame too. He is as corrupt as they get. Folks who are interested in politics on CB3 should realize they are better off voting for what the COMMUNITY wants and not what Mendez, Chin, Silver, etc. want them to do. Regular folks are actually so fed up they are watching this one and will remember how people vote. Seriously folks, think for yourselves, and stop being pawns, start really evaluating people substantively and not on the basis of race, gender or ethnicity and we will be MUCH better off!! (By the way, I am NOT a white male!).

I've read quite a few stories on this matter. All of them tout Chad's experience, etc.
In fairness, can you please list Gigi's experience? The story makes it seem as if Gigi just graduated from college–well, not even that.

Didn't you read the story? Quote: " we were disappointed that Li did not accept — or, much less, even respond to — The Villager’s offer to come in for an endorsement interview, "

How can the Villager list Gigi's experience when she refuses to be interviewed for this story – and another one in Our Town/ Downtown – and not even give the reporter and us readers a reason for her ducking the interview? This reminds me of Nixon during Watergate.

Yes, I understand this but she's been at that position for two years. The press doesn't have any information at all about her? Most of Chad's experience can be documented without an interview. A lot of what he has done is documented with press clippings. That's what reporters do, no? I would just like to know something/anything.

She's run the board so poorly that the Manhattan Borough President has had to intervene 4 times in the operations of CB3 since she became chair two years ago (Stringer twice; Brewer twice). She is also currently the target of an EEOC investigation by Gail Brewer's office. And the Villager did list all her accomplishments, sort of, because she has none (seriously – that's why she is dodging the press). Does that help?

Ms. Gigi Li is in desperate need of a media strategy and PR! It says on the CB3 website that all press must go through Susan Stetzer. With Ms. Stetzer's high unfavorable rating in this community, Ms. Li made a huge mistake allowing Ms. Stetzer to act as her press point person and strategist. But then again it seems from the blogosphere that Ms. Li was under the thumb of Ms. Stetzer.

It is pretty apparent that Ms. Li doesn't have much of a record as Chair for two years. In this modern world of "spin" and google searches, not being able to come up with "something" means there just isn't much of "anything" to work with. Not one of her supporters could be enlisted to publicly praise her leadership?

Or is this radio silence from Ms. Li is because she already knows she has the votes needed to win a third term? Public outrage be damned, the game is fixed! (But I guess Ms. Li probably already knew that.)

Whatever the outcome, Ms. Li is damaged goods. All of this negativity will follow any political ambitions she has.

If she wins a third term on Tuesday, I suspect her hands will be tied: 1) she will be serving under the ire and scrutiny of frustrated residents who will call out her every misstep; 2) made ineffective by the statu quo that will take the year to regroup and groom her replacement pushing him/her out in front; and 3) contend with a fractured board. Not much upside for her future political plans.

And a Gigi Li wins means the distrust and dislike of CB3 could play out in the polls. Mendez can't run again so whoever is her replacement will need to be on the right side of this vote. For Chin and Silver, there is an Erik Kantor lesson to heed.

I think any board members with future plans outside of CB3 will need to be reformers that helped clean up C.B. 3. And for those members with no political ambition and only want to serve businesses and residents need to vote the will of the people.

No matter what side of the vote you are on, there is no disagreement that C.B. 3's reputation is in the toilet. And there is only one way to change that, and that is new leadership and engaged residents.

There is a vicious symbiotic cycle between the bars that push mainly alcohol and the landlords who keep on raising rents and hold out and rent their properties only to bars who have the only business model (sell alcohol) who can afford these continually raising rents. In this process, all the other service businesses (e.g. shoemakers, basic grocery stores) that should exist to make up a viable neighborhood are squeezed out, and what you get is what we have- a decomposing, rotting neighborhood, where the residents have to step over drunks and vomit to get home at night and try to sleep, with the screaming noise of cars, kids and music continually waking them up, so they can get up in the morning and try to work and pay taxes despite having little sleep the night before. Enough bars. What needs to happen now is a decrease in the number of bar application approvals so the landlords are forced to decrease their rents so services can afford to move back into the area.

This is TRTH: "C.B. 3 is clearly in disarray, and there is a growing sense of disconnect with the community that it is supposed to serve. There is a strong sentiment for change, both within the community and on C.B. 3. On the board, there is also a growing sense of rebellion."

As a resident of Beastie Boy Square I am excited by the prospect of new community leadership that will represent the residents. If that candidate is Chad Marlow, I fully support him.

Beastie Boy square, gimme a break! I can't believe this was raised as an issue with Li's tenure. Ok, procedure is one thing but this street naming is a nonstarter…. There is SO MUCH history in that part of the LES, to claim it for the Beastie Boys because of a darn album cover is silly. And I'm a big BBoy fan! I really am. But the Beasties were not really all about the LES, their lives and work was broader than that.